Community Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infection of alveoli, distal airways, and interstitium that occurs outside the hospital setting. CAP is a common illness and can affect people of all ages; it is often causes problems like breathing, fever, chest pains and a cough. CAP occurs because the area of the lung, which absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere, become filled with fluid and cannot work effectively.

CAP occurs throughout the world and is leading cause of illness and death. Causes of CAP include bacteria, virus, fungi, and parasites. CAP can be diagnosed by symptoms and physical examination alone, thought x-rays, examination of the sputum, and other tests are often used. Individuals with CAP sometimes require treatment in a hospital. CAP is primarily treated with antibiotic medication. Some forms of CAP can be prevented by vaccination.

CAP manifest in four general patterns the Lobar pneuminia, Bronchopneumonia, Interstitial Pneumonia, Miliary pneumonia. Lobar Pneumonia involve the entire lung lobe, in the Bronchopneumonia it has a patchy consolidation in one or several lobes, usually in dependent lower or posterior portions centered around bronchi and bronchioles, Interstitial pneumonia is the inflammation of the interstitium, including the alveolar walls and connective tissue around the bronchovascular tree and in Miliary pneumonia a numerous discrete lesions due to hematogenous spread.